Impact factors place SLEEP, JCSM among leading journals in the field
The AASM is pleased to announce that the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine received its first impact factor of 3.232, placing it third among all non-review journals on sleep. The leading journal, SLEEP, remains in the top tier among all peer-reviewed scientific journals. For the third year in a row, the impact factor for SLEEP exceeded 5.0. The impact factor for the journals is calculated based on the number of citations articles within the journal received in other scientific publications. Journals with a higher impact factor are generally viewed as more influential and important in their fields.
9 percent of U.S. employers plan to drop coverage, study finds
Nearly one in 10 U.S. employers plans to drop health coverage for their workers within the next three years, according to a Deloitte study expected to be released shortly, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Health care reform overview: the individual mandate
With the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, there is much speculation on how this legislation will change clinical practice. While the unknowns are greater than what we currently understand about the ACA, the AASM has been analyzing what is in store for sleep medicine. Over the next several weeks, the AASM website will provide a synopsis of certain provisions in the bill. This week will focus on the individual mandate.
Save the date: AASM Winter Course to be held Feb. 22-24
Review the latest treatment plans for sleep disorders and learn about the newest business trends and how the health care reform will affect your practice by attending the AASM winter course. In 2013, the AASM winter course will return to the Arizona Biltmore, in Phoenix. With an average temperature of more than 70 degrees in February, attendees will be able to enjoy the many outdoor amenities of the Arizona Biltmore including eight swimming pools, two PGA golf courses and seven tennis courts. Information about registration and the course agenda will be released later this year.
AASM to offer course on sleep disorders for physician assistants and advance practice nurses
Physician assistants and advance practice nurses who want to begin seeing patients with sleep disorders can gain a background in sleep medicine by attending the AASM course Sleep Disorders for the Physician Assistant or Advanced Practice Nurse on Oct. 6-7 at the AASM National Office in Darien, IL. The course will provide an overview of sleep and sleep disorders, diagnosis and treatment guidelines for sleep disorders and billing and documentation issues that impact PAs and APNs. Registration for this course has been significantly reduced to help accommodate the needs of PAs and APNs. Registration is only $100.00 for AASM Members who register before September 7.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine Statement on the Use of Provigil
Provigil, which comprises the drug modafinil, is a stimulant that originally received FDA approval in 1998. A variation of the medication, marketed as Nuvigil and composed of armodafinil, was approved by the FDA in 2007.
Updated Interpreting Sleep Studies course to include sessions on OCST
The Interpreting Sleep Studies course will be held September 29-30 at the AASM National Office in Darien, IL. The popular course focuses on the interpretation of sleep studies to diagnose and treat sleep disorders. As out-of-center sleep testing becomes more prevalent throughout the country, lectures on this important topic have been added to this annual course.
Hypnogram: Affordable Care Act
With the recent 5-4 decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the Affordable Care Act, there is much speculation on how this legislation will change clinical practice as more than 32 million Americans are expected to enter the health care system. While the unknowns are greater than what we currently understand about the ACA, the AASM has been analyzing what is in store for sleep medicine. Over the next several weeks, we will provide you with summaries of relevant sections of the Act and the corresponding requirements. Hopefully this information will help equip you in moving forward with your practice.
Deadline for ASMF Humanitarian Projects Award application approaching
Applications for the 2012 Cycle of the American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF) Humanitarian Projects Award are due Monday, July 23. The primary objective of the award is to provide support to projects that address sleep problems in underprivileged populations. The ASMF is particularly interested in projects that develop or promote novel approaches to address human suffering as it relates to inadequate sleep or sleep disorders in disadvantaged groups.
House GOP funding bill would “terminate” AHRQ and ban federal funding of patient-centered outcomes research
Representative Denny Rehberg (R-Montana), chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, released his version of the subcommittee's fiscal year 2013 appropriations bill funding the departments of Labor, Education, HHS, and related agencies.
Automatic federal spending cuts scheduled for 2013 would significantly affect HHS
Automatic reductions in federal spending scheduled to take effect in 2013 would result in a 7.8 percent reduction in the budget for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If these cuts take effect it would lead to the elimination of 2,300 new and competing NIH research project grants, and the downsizing of numerous other federal health programs.
Final chance to submit SLEEP 2013 speaker recommendations
Wednesday, July 17 is the final day to submit your recommendations for SLEEP 2013 presenters. The27th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC will be held June 1-5 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The APSS is seeking recommendations for keynote speakers, invited lecturers and meet the professors
Drowsy driving education offered online for commercial drivers
Long an advocate of safe transportation through rested and alert commercial operators, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is now offering a free online presentation for truckers describing the signs, causes and effects of driver fatigue and some strategies to manage it.
The AASM thanks its top June recruiters
Member recruiters help advance sleep medicine by encouraging their professional colleagues to join the AASM. For each new member recruited, these individuals receive a $15 Recognition of Excellence Money (REM) Voucher that can be used toward AASM products and course registrations. Each member referral also enters recruiters into a Grand Prize Drawing to win a complimentary 2013 AASM course registration including travel expenses. Learn how to participate in the AASM Member-Get-A-Member Campaign.
Last week to apply for 2012 RST exam
The American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM) Sleep Technologist Registry Examination application deadline is July 16. In order to sit for the exam, which will be offered during the testing window of Aug. 11 – Sept. 7, individuals must submit a completed Sleep Technologist Registry Examination application.
Popular Interpreting Sleep Studies course to be offered in September
Register today for the Interpreting Sleep Studies course to be held September 29-30 at the national office in Darien, Illinois. This course is intended for sleep medicine professionals interested in a case-based review of how to perform and interpret sleep studies to diagnosis and manage patients with sleep disorders. Sessions will focus on clinical signs, indications for testing, interpretation of polysomnography, actigraphy and out of center sleep testing (OCST) and development of treatment plans.
CMS publishes CY 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule
On Friday, July 6 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule recommending changes to payment for the Medicare program for calendar year (CY) 2013. Recommendations made in the proposed rule will be reviewed and, based on comment from the public, may be finalized in the final rule which will be published in November.
Sleep deprivation effect on the immune system mirrors physical stress
Study looks at white blood cell counts following 29 hours of continual wakefulness
AASM needs your support to help us succeed in our advocacy efforts
Over the last several months the AASM has been very active meeting with legislators and administrators in Washington, D.C. to educate and obtain their support on our Safe Harbor proposal. As our members know, the current Medicare practice model of care for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is fragmented. Current policy and Federal law prevents a sleep physician from providing a sleep test and dispensing the therapeutic durable medical equipment (DME).
AASM introduces driver fatigue awareness program SAFE-D
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is working to increase awareness about driver fatigue as families hit the road for the summer peak driving season. According to a recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, an estimated 16.5 percent of all fatal crashes involved a fatigued driver. As a response to these alarming numbers, the AASM recently launched a new public education campaign called SAFE-D: Sleep, Alertness and Fatigue Education for Drivers.
Supreme Court health care decision expected today
The United States Supreme Court is expended to hand down its much-anticipated ruling on the constitutionality of President Obama's health care reform law sometime today. No one outside of the court knows what decision the justices have made. The announcement is likely to be made sometime after 9 a.m. CST. AASM government analysts are closely following this story and will keep members updated. For live updates, follow the AASM on Twitter at @AASMorg.
Hypnogram: An Introduction
Welcome to my first edition of the HypnoGram. This blog, started by Nancy Collop, has been a helpful resource for members, and I intend to maintain an open line of communication with you. Throughout the year, I will keep you updated on initiatives of the Board of Directors, thoughts on the state of the sleep field, and new programs and services the AASM is introducing for you.
Transcript of Dr. Collop’s speech at SLEEP 2012
A transcript of the speech delivered by AASM President Nancy Collop, MD at the SLEEP 2012 AASM Membership Meeting.
Transcript of SLEEP 2012 speech by incoming President Sam Fleishman
This article contains a transcript of the speech delivered by then-incoming AASM President Sam Fleishman at the SLEEP 2012 membership meeting.
Louisiana passes Senate Bill 637
Governor Bobby Jindal signed Senate Bill 637 (SB 637) into law. SB 637 amends the Louisiana Polysomnographic Practice Act (“Act”) by postponing licensure for sleep technologists until 2017.